Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study Summary A cost analysis of promotional products vs. other advertising media (for complete study, please call 800-680-0123)
Study Background Please find enclosed a cost analysis, done by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) where they interviewed various individuals regarding promotional products they had received. The purpose of the interviews was to understand where items are kept, frequency of use, why the promotional product was kept and estimate the number of impressions the advertiser makes with the item. The study validates much of what we know to be true with regards to the value of promoting your company and creating brand identity through logo d wearables, accessories, and merchandise items. Conclusions Cost per Impression. In the U.S., the cost per impression of a promotional product is: $0.005 cents. When compared to other forms of media like television or radio, promotional products are very affordable and effective. Product Usage. Bags have the highest number of impressions in a month, over 1,000. In fact, over one-third (36%) of those with incomes under $50,000 own bags. Current global awareness of the importance of reusing, rather than throwing away, combined with high end-user needs for cost saving, make bags a better-than-ever way for advertisers to spread their message. Gender Preferences. Males are more likely than females to own shirts and caps, while females are more likely to have bags, writing instruments, calendars and health and safety products than males. And as men age, they are even more likely to have received a cap in the last 12 months. As women age, they are more likely to have received writing instruments or calendars. Ability to Identify the Advertiser. 83% in the U.S. indicated they could identify the advertiser on a promotional item they owned. Not only do promotional products make impressions to everyone who sees them, but messaging is reinforced every time the item is used, as it is making a contribution to the needs of the owner. No other form of media can allow the advertiser to so closely tie a benefit to the recipient of the message or brand. Ability to Influence User Opinions. 41% of U.S. respondents indicated their opinion of the advertiser was more favorable after receiving a promotional product. Among those who had not done business with the advertiser already in the U.S., 27% thought it likely they would. Most Popular Product. In the U.S., writing instruments are used the most often, an average of 18.2 times per month. Pass Along. After receiving a promotional product they don t plan to keep, nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents in the U.S. indicated that they give the item to someone else. This is up 11 percentage points from two years ago.
Detailed Findings Types of items owned The most commonly owned promotional products among U.S. respondents are writing instruments (46%), followed by shirts (38%) and calendars (24%). Calendars climbed from seventh in 2008 to third in 2010. The number of calendars given out was not necessarily higher, but the number kept and subsequently used was higher. Types of Items Owned Rank Rank U.S. Canada 2010 (U.S.) 2008 (U.S.) Writing Instruments 1 1 46% 44% Shirts 2 2 38% 42% Calendars 3 7 24% 20% Bags 4 4 23% 20% Caps/Headwear 5 3 16% 22% Desk/Office/Business Accessories 6 6 16% 18% Food Items 7 n/a 12% 16% Glassware/Ceramics (includes 8 5 11% 18% Mugs) Health and Safety Products 9 n/a 9% 13% Jackets/Hoodies/Sweatshirts/Fleece 10 n/a 4% 8% Electronics/Computer 11 n/a 4% 2% Recognition- 12 10 3% 3% Awards/Trophies/Plaques Automotive 13 n/a 2% 1% Average number of times used per month Writing instruments are used the most often, 18.2 times per month in the U.S. Average Number of Times Item Is Used per Month Average number of contacts per month Bags have the highest average number of contacts when used each month, particularly in the U.S., where 187 see the item when used. Shirts also have a high number of contacts, with 113 in the U.S. Caps have a high number of contacts, particularly in Canada, where 173 see the item when it is used.
Impressions U.S. Impressions are calculated by multiplying the number of times an item is used by the number of people that see the item. Overall, the number of impressions for like items in 2008 and 2010 is similar. Once again, bags have the highest number of impressions per month, with 1,078. Wearables (shirts, caps, jackets) as a group generate the highest number of impressions. Items commonly used by only one person, such a health product (86 impressions/month) or food item (93 impressions/month), generate the lowest number of impressions. Length of time item is kept The average length of time a respondent kept a promotional product is 5.4 months. Electronics are held the longest, at 8.1 months, while (as expected) food items are held for one month. Total Impressions and Time an Item Is Kept U.S. 2010 2008 Impressions/Month Impression s/ 2010 Months Kept 2008 Months Kept Month Bags 1,078 1038 6.7 8.6 Caps/Headwear 443 476 6.7 7.1 Writing Instruments 437 363 4.6 4.9 Shirts 344 365 6.4 6.8 Calendars 295 227 6.7 8.3 Electronics/Computer* 278 n/a 8.1 n/a Automotive* 265 n/a 4.6 n/a Jackets/Hoodies/Sweatshirts/Fle 257 n/a 3.9 n/a ece Desk/Office/Business 243 294 5.5 6.4 Accessories Recognition- 223 221 7.3 10.8 Awards/Trophies/Plaques* Glassware/Ceramics (includes 198 251 6.6 8.0 Mugs) Food Items 93 n/a 1.0 n/a Health and Safety Products 86 n/a 4.1 n/a AVG 5.4 5.9** Total Impressions/Cost per Impression With the exception of Recognition-Awards, the cost per impression of ad specialties is very low, costing only fractions of a cent per impression. The cost per impression of a promotional product stayed virtually the same from 2008 to 2010, and is now.005 cents
Impressions Summary Cost - US Total Impressions Average Cost 2010 Cost per Impression (cents) 2008 Cost per Impression (cents) Total 0.005 0.004 Bags 7,224 $10 0.001 0.002 Caps/Headwear 2,984 $6 0.002 0.002 Electronics/Computer 2,243 $13 0.006 n/a Shirts 2,208 $11 0.005 0.005 Writing Instruments 2,005 $3 0.001 0.002 Calendars 1,984 $5 0.003 0.003 Recognition 1,634 $35 0.021 0.021 Awards/Trophies/Plaques Desk/office/Business Accessories 1,324 $10 0.008 0.007 Glassware/ceramics (includes 1,307 $5 0.004 0.004 Mugs) Automotive 1,227 $6 0.005 n/a Jackets/Hoodies/Sweatshirts/Fleece 1,002 $50 0.050 n/a Health and Safety Products 355 $2 0.006 n/a Food Items 93 $7 0.076 n/a Cost per impression of other media Advertising specialties are less expensive per impression than other media. The investment in advertising specialties is modest, more targeted and achievable by smaller business than other forms of advertising. Cost per Impression Prime Time TV (1) 0.018 Syndicated (Day) 0.005 TV (1) Cable TV (Prime Time) (1) National Magazine (1) 0.005 0.045 Spot Radio (1) 0.058 Billboard (2) 0.002 Newspaper (3) 0.029 Internet (4) 0.003
Ability to Identify Advertiser Are you able to identify the advertiser of the item? 83% in the U.S. indicated they could identify the advertiser on a promotional item they own, very similar to 2008 (84%). As one would expect, items that are the most frequently used have the highest advertiser recall. Glassware/ ceramics (87%) and shirts (86%) have the highest recall. Electronics/computer items have the lowest recall (31%), suggesting a need for better advertiser identification.
Reason for Keeping Item Why do you keep the item you received? About three-quarters of respondents indicated that an item s usefulness is the primary Calendars, writing instruments, health and safety items and bags are most frequently kept because they re useful. Recognition awards are kept by 43% because they re enjoyable to have, while calendars are kept for reference by 21%.